Keyboard for keyboard instruments



May 12, 1959 o. GOLDHAMMER 2,885,921

KEYBOARD FOR KEYBOARD INSTRUMENTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 29, 1954 Hil RMN .w.

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KEYBOARD FOR KEYBOARD INSTRUMENTS Filed Dec. 29, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 &

INVENTOR May 12, 1959 o. GOLDHAMMER 2,835,921 KEYBOARD FOR KEYBOARD INSTRUMENTS" Filed Dec. 29, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 m g/l1. Tlqlfk. Tw ll T1E1.E=E.

/025 /2/4 6/4 620 /0?0 20 /ZZ6 4-?!6 /4/ A425 \NVENTOR Orro 6'04DM4MM5? United States Patent KEYBOARD FOR KEYBOARD INSTRUMENTS Otto Goldhammer, Leipzig, Germany, assignor to VEB Geraer Klaviaturenfabrik, Gera-Lagenbcrg, Germany Application December 29, 1954, Serial No. 478,340

22 Claims. ('61. 84-423) This invention relates to musical instruments, and more particularly to the keyboard of keyboard instruments such as pianofortes, organs, accordions, etc.

Hitherto customary keyboards of keyboard instruments have many disadvantages, for example:

(a) The body of the black keys is forwardly inclined at its front end from its playing surface towards the playing surface of the white keys, so that at least a length of 6 millimeters of the playing surface of the black keys and a length of 6 millimeters of the playing surface of the white keys are lost for the playing of the instrument.

(b) The length of the black keys is too short. Therefore the cover plate or the closing ledge of the piano is scratched by the finger nails of the player. Furthermore the playing of octaves or accords on the black keys (for example f-sharp major or d-flat major etc.) requires an outward turning of the wrists so as to provide for sufficient playing space and to avoid a hitting of the cover plate or closing ledge of the piano.

(0) The playing surface of the white keys in the front third of the keyboard before the black keys is much too short for the simultaneous playing with all five fingers of a hand. Said playing surface of the white keys is in an entirely horizontal plane, although the root of the thumb is in a plane approximately 40-50 millimeters below the plane of the joints of the other fingers of the hand. Therefore the wrists must be turned outwardly for the playing of octaves or accords, so that the thumb may reach the playing surface of the white keys.

(d) The clearance between two adjacent white keys in the front third of the keyboard before the black keys is too small, so that the player of the instrument may readily touch and depress involuntarily an adjacent white key during the playing of octaves and accords, if he does not hold his hand and fingers in the proper and accurate position.

(2) The playing space between two adjacent black keys (for example between c-sharp and d-sharp or between f-sharp land g-sharp) is too small. One of the reasons is the divergence of the cross-section of the black keys from their playing surface towards the playing surface of the white keys. Therefore fingers of normal size and certainly fingers with broad tips cause a blocking of the adjacent black keys when they touch a white key in the space between two black keys during the playing of the instrument.

(f) The playing space of two adjoining white keys (for example e and f or b and 0) between the adjacent black keys (for example d-sharp and f-sharp or b-flat and c-sharp) in the rear portion of the keyboard (black and white playing plane) is too small, so that fingers of normal size and certainly fingers with broad tips causea blocking of the adjacent black key or white key respectively during the playing of the instrument.

(g) The white keys and the black keys have projecting parts and are confined by sharp vertical, horizontal and inclined edges. Used instruments show scratches and ground-down portions of the soft wood bases of the black keys, caused by the finger nails of the players.

In addition to the above-listed disadvantages the playing technic of a player is impaired in many other respects by the construction and shape of the hitherto customary keyboards.

An object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard for keyboard instruments by means of which the disadvantages of the hitherto customary keyboards are overcome.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key board for keyboard instruments wherein the playing surfaces and playing spaces are favorably adapted to the anatomical conditions of the hands and fingers and to the movements of the hands and fingers required for the playing of an instrument.

A further object of the invention is to provide a keyboard for keyboard instruments wherein. a considerable enlargement of all playing spaces is obtained.

Other objects and structural detals of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a keyboard for a keyboard instrument according to the invention, some parts being shown in section,

Fig. 2 is partly a sectional and partly a front elevational view of the keyboard shown in Fig. 1, taken along line 11-11 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 1IIIH of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plane view of another embodiment of a keyboard according to the invention, the frame being omitted,

Fig. 5 is partly a sectional view and partly a front elevational view of the keyboard shown in Fig. 4, taken in line VV of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line VI--VI of Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of a different embodiment of a white key of a keyboard according to the invention,

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of a white key,

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of a further embodiment of a white key,

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of still another embodiment of a white key,

Figs. ll16 are side elevational views of further embodiments of a white key,

Fig. 17 is a top plan View of a different embodiment of a black key according to the invention,

Fig. 18 is a side elevational view of the black key shown in Fig. 17 as seen in the direction of the arrow XVIII,

Fig. 19 is a front elevational view of the black key as shown in Fig. 17,

Fig. 20 is a front elevational view of the black key as shown in Fig. 18,

Fig. 21 is a top plan view of a further embodiment of a black key according to the invention,

Fig. 22 is a side elevational view of the black key shown in Fig. 21,

Fig. 23 is a front elevational view of the black key as shown in Fig. 22, 1

Fig. 24 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of a black key,

Fig. 25 is a front elevational view of the black key as shown in Fig. 24,

Fig. 26 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of a black key,

Fig. 27 is a front elevational view of the black key as shown in Fig. 26,

Fig. 28 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of a black key, and

Fig. 29 is a front elevational view of the black key as shown in Fig. 28.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, generally indi cates a keyboard of a keyboard instrument, said keyboard comprising a plurality of white keys 12 (c, d, e, f, g, a, b) and a plurality of black keys 14 (c-sharp, d-sh'arp, f-sharp, g-sharp, b.-flat), only one octave being shown. The white keys 12 and the black keys 14 are rockably mounted in conventional manner on a rail 16 of a frame generally indicated by 18. The keys 12, 14 actuate the action of the instrument in any customary manner.

As best shown in Figs. 13, the front surfaces 20 of the black keys 14 of 'a keyboard 10 according to the invention extend in a vertical direction. The hitherto customary forward inclination of the front surfaces of the black keys from the top of the black key towards the top plane of the white keys is omitted. Furthermore, the contour 22 of the front ends of the black keys 14 is in the shape of a semi-cylinder, the upper portion 24 of said semi-cylinder being rounded.

According to another feature of the invention, the cross-section of the black keys 14 (see Fig. 2) is of rectangular shape. Therefore, the side surfaces 26 of the black keys 14 extend straight downwardly in a vertical plane. The hitherto customary trapezoid crosssection of the black keys providing for an inclination of the side surfaces of the black keys from the top thereof towards the adjacent white keys and thus reducing the playing space between the black keys is eliminated. Thus, the width A of the white playing space between two adjacent black keys 1.4 (for example c-sharp and d-sharp or f-sharp and g-sharp) of the keyboard 10 according to the invention is considerably enlarged providing sufficient room to play for the fingers of a hand.

Furthermore, as best shown in Fig. 3, the top surface of the black keys 14 is inclined downwardly from the front to the rear towards the closing ledge 28 of the piano, so that the top surface 31) of the black key, along its entire length, is about 1 mm. above the level of the top surface 32 of the adjacent white key 12 when the black key 14 is depressed into the position 14 shown in dash and dot lines.

The length B of the black keys 14 is up to 45 millimeters larger than the length of the hitherto customary black keys. For example a black key of a keyboard according to the invention for a pianoforte may have an overall length B of 130 millimeters.

Preferably, the side surfaces 26 of the black keys 14 are made of a material smooth as a mirror.

As shown in Figs. 13 and 13, the front third of the top surface 32 of each White key 12 before the black keys 14 is bent longitudinally and transversely. Both curvatures are convex. The longitudinal curvature 34 (see Figs. 3 and 13) extends downwardly from a point in front of the end of the black keys towards the front end of the white key. The transverse curvature 36 (see Fig. 2) extends downwardly from the center of the top surface 32 on each side thereof.

Moreover, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 13, the front end of each white key 12 is tapered, the side surfaces 38 converging toward the front surface 412. Said side surfaces 38 are also rounded.

The playing surface of each white key 12 in the front third of the keyboard 10 before the black keys 14 is smaller than the playing surface of a white key of hitherto customary keyboards. The clearance C between adjacent white keys 12 of a keyboard 10 according to the invention, for use in a pianoforte, may amount to 1-4 millimeters for example. Thus, the playing space of the white keys 12 in the front third of the keyboard 10 in front of the black keys 14 is enlarged by a reduction in size of the playing surfaces at each side thereof. The width of a white key 12 in the front third of a keyboard 16 for a pianoforte may be reduced up to 19 millimeters for example.

Furthermore, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, one of the White keys 12 adjoining another white key in the rear two thirds of the keyboard containing the black keys (forexample the white keys 0 and e) is provided with a longitudinal recess 42, said recess 42 having substantially the length of a black key 14. Thus the adjacent playing spaces bc and e f between the black keys b-fiat and c-sharp and the black keys d-sharp and f-sharp are sufficiently enlarged for avoiding an involuntary depression of a white key during the playing of the instrument.

The length of the white keys 12 in the front third of the keyboard before the black keys 14 and in the rear two thirds of the keyboard in the range of the black keys is larger than the corresponding lengths of the white keys of hitherto customary keyboards. Such an enlargement may amount to up to 65 millimeters. For example a white key 12 of a keyboard according to the invention may have a length D of millimeters in the front third of the keyboard and a length E of 130 millimeters in the rear two thirds of the keyboard, i.e. a total length of 210 millimeters.

Preferably, the side surfaces of the white keys 12 are made of the same material as the top surfaces. The use of a material smooth as a mirror reduces the friction to a minimum and eliminates a soiling of the side surfaces.

As will be readily understood from above, the white and black keys of the keyboard according to the invention have no projecting portions. Furthermore, all edges of the keys coming into contact with the hands and/or fingers of a player are rounded.

The embodiment of a keyboard 11! comprising white keys 112 and black keys 114, shown in Figs. 4-6, substantially corresponds to the keyboard 10 described above in connection with Figs. 1.3. However, according to Figs. 4-6, the front surfaces 126 of the black keys 114 are straight (in contrast to the cylindrical shape of the front surfaces 21} of the black keys 14 according to Figs. l-3). Merely the upper edges 125 of said front surfaces 120 of the black keys 114- according to Figs. 46 are rounded.

Furthermore, according to Figs. 47-6 only a portion of the white keys 112 in the front third of the keyboard has a longitudinal convex curvature. As shown in Fig. 6, the curvature 134 starts approximately at the point F at a distance from the fron f nd of the black keys 114.

According to the embodiment of a, white key 212 shown in Fig. 7, the front end of the key is tapered from the plane G where the longitudinal convex curvature 2,34 starts.

Furthermore, the transverse convex curvature 236 of the front portion of the white key 212 is only at each side of a center portion 237 which is substantially straight. The curved portions 236 and the center portion 237 extend each through approximately one third of the width of the front portion of the white key.

Moreover, the entire top surface of the front portion of the white key 212 is roughened by dot-like protrusions or the like so as to eliminate an undesired skidding of the fingers of the player. Of course different forms of roughening of the surface could be used.

The embodiment of a white key 312 shown in Fig. 8 substantially corresponds to the embodiment of a white key shown in Fig. 7. However, according to Fig. 8 only the center portion 337 of the top surface of the front portion of the key is roughened by the arrangement of longitudinal grooves.

The white key 412 shown in Fig. 9 substantially corresponds to a white key of the, keyboard shown in Fig. 1. However, according to Fig. 9. one third of the top surface of the front portion of the white key 412 on each side of the center portion 437 is roughened by means of longitudinal grooves 439.

The white key 512 shown in Fig. also substantially corresponds to a white key of the keyboard shown in Fig. 1. However, according to Fig. 10 the entire top surface of the front portion of the white key 512 is roughened by means of longitudinal grooves 541.

It is understood that the embodiments shown in Figs. 8-10 could be provided with different means for roughening the various surfaces.

The white key 612 shown in Fig. 11 shows a combined convex and concave longitudinal curvature 635, said curvature extending downwardly from the top towards the front end of the white key.

The white key 712 shown in Fig. 12 corresponds substantially to the white key shown in Figs. 1 and 3. However, the front end of the white key 712 according to Fig. 12 is provided with a projection 744.

According to Fig. 14 the longitudinal convex curvature 734 of the white key 712 starts already at the point H. Thus, the playing surfaces of the white keys of the keyboard are curved along the length of the front third of the black keys 714 in addition to their curvature before the black keys.

According to Fig. 15 the longitudinal convex curvature 834 of the white key 812 starts at the point I so that the playing surfaces of the white keys of a keyboard containing keys as shown in said Fig. 15 are curved along of the semi-cylindrical front surface 1420 of the black key 1414 is located farther inward than the upper edge thereof through a distance L" of 1-2 millimeters. In this embodiment, however, the generatrix of the semi-cylindrical front surface 1420 is in the shape of a slightly concave curve. Furthermore, the side surfaces 1426 of the black key 1414 are convex and the lower edge of said side surfaces 1426 is farther inward than the upper edge thereof through the distance L.

As will be readily understood from above, in contrast to the hitherto customary keyboards, the distribution and sealing of the playing spaces, playing surfaces and keys of the keyboard according to the invention is not developed only from the white keys. The keyboard according to the invention is divided into two zones: (a) the front or white playing zone and (b) the rear or black and white playing zone.

According to the invention a keyboard of standard mensuration can be manufactured wherein playing spaces of identical size are obtained for the white keys 12 in the rear (black and white) playing zone although the playing surfaces of the white keys in said zone are of various sizes.

For example, if the clearance 2 (see Fig. 1) between white and black keys equals 1 millimeter and the clearance y between adjacent white keys in the rear (black and white) playing zone equals 5 millimeters, the following measurements (in millimeters) are obtained in the rear (black and white) playing zone:

Table A Key d det sharp Playing surface X, X, X Playing space 10 approximately half of the length of the black keys 814 in addition to their curvature before the black keys.

According to Fig. 16 the lonigtudinal convex curvature 934 of the white key 912 starts at the point K. Accordingly, the playing surfaces of the white keys of a keyboard containing keys as shown in said Fig. 16 are curved along approximately two thirds of the length of the black keys 914 in addition to their curvature before the black keys. The front surface 1020 of the black key 1014 shown in Figs. 17-20 is of semi-cylindrical shape. The generatrix of the front surface 1020 being straight extends in vertical direction. The upper edge 1025 of the front surface 1020 is rounded.

The black key 1114 shown in Figs. 21-23 is substantially of the $811116 shape as the black key 14 shown in Fig. 1. However, the top surface of the black key 1114 of Figs. 21-23 is roughened by the arrangement of longitudinal grooves 1141. Of course, any other suitable means for preventing an undesired sliding of the fingers on the blade keys could be used.

According to Figs. 24 and 25 the straight generatrix of the semi-cylindrical front surface 1220 of the black key 1214 is inclined inwardly from the top towards the bottom. The lower edge of the front surface is farther inwards than the upper edge thereof by a distance L of l-2 millimeters. The straight side surfaces 1226 of the black keys 1214 are inclined inwardly in the same manner.

According to Figs. 26 and 27, again the lower edge of the semi-cylindrical front surface 1320 of the black Table B Key c d e f g a 0 Playing space 16. 5 15 16. 5 15. 75 14. 25 14. 25 15. 75

In some instances it may be desirable to manufacture a keyboard having a mensuration smaller than the standard mensuration (for example a keyboard for a piano to be played by childen, or a keyboard for certain instruments, such as an accordion).

In accordance with the invention it is possible to manufacture a keyboard wherein, in spite of a reduced mensuration of the white keys only, the playing spaces for white keys between adjacent black keys or for adjacent white keys (ef or bc) in the rear (black and white) playing zone are of the same size or larger than the corresponding playing surfaces in keyboards having a standard mensuration.

For example, if the clearance between white and black keys equals 1 millimeter and the clearance between adjacent white keys (e-f and b--c) in the rear (black and white) playing zone equals 4 millimeters, the following measurements (in millimeters) are obtained in the rear (black and white) playing zone:

Table C Key c-sharp d d-sharp e f t-sharp g g-sharp a b-flat b Playing surface... 10. 9 13 9 10. 5 10. 5 9 13 9 13 9 10. 5 Playing space 16. 5 17 16. 5 16. 5 .i 17 17 16. 5

It becomes obvious from a comparison of the measurements of the playing spaces according to table C with those of table B that the playing spaces of the keyboard according to the invention are of the same size or even larger than the corresponding playing spaces of standard keyboards.

A similar result may also be obtained in a keyboard according to the invention wherein the mensuration of both the white keys and the black keys is reduced.

For example, if the clearance between white and black keys equals 1 millimeter and the clearance between adjacent white keys (cf and b-c) in the rear (black and white) playing zone equals 3 millimeters, the following measurements (in millimeters) are obtained in the rear (black and white) playing zone:

next to each other in predetermined succession in ordinary octave formation with seven white keys 0, d, e, f, g, a and b and five black keys c-sharp, d-sharp, f-sharp, g-sharp and b-flat, the white keys being longer than the black keys, whereby a front white playing zone and a rear black and white playing zone is formed, adjacent keys in the front and rear playing zones defining a clearance between them, and the clearance between adjacent white keys ef and b-c of each octave in the rear playing zone being wider along the entire length of the rear playing zone than the clearance between adjacent white keys in the front playing zone and, further, being wider than the clearance between adjacent white keys and black keys in the rear playing zone, said wider clearance between the white keys e-f and b-c being confined to the Table D Key 0 c-sharp d d-sharp e f f-sharp g g-sharp a b-fiat b Playing surface- 13. 3 8. 4 13.1 8. 4 13. 3 13. 3 8. 4 13. 1 8. 4 13.1 8. 4 13. 3 Playing space 17. 3 15.1 17. 3 17. 3 15. 1 15.1 17. 3

According to Table D, the playing spaces are again of the same size or larger than the corresponding playing spaces of a standard keyboard according to Table B.

Furthermore, it is also possible to manufacture a keyboard according to the invention wherein, in spite of an enlargement of the playing surface of the black keys, the playing spaces for white keys between adjacent black keys or for adjacent white keys (ef or b-c) in the rear (black and white) playing zone are of the same size or larger than the corresponding playing surfaces in keyboards having a standard mensuration.

For example, if the clearance between white and black keys equals 1 millimeter and the clearance between adjacent white keys (e-f and b-c) in the rear (black and white) playing zone equals 3 millimeters, the following measurements (in millimeters) are obtained in the rear (black and white) playing zone:

rear playing zone, whereby the playing spaces for all the seven white keys of each octave in the rear playing zone are enlarged by proper relative displacement thereof and the playing space distribution for all twelve keys in the rear playing zone is made variable independent of the playing space. distribution for the white keys in the front playing zone, and whereby the overall mensuration of the entire keyboard may be reduced while still providing sufficiently large playing spaces in the front and rear playing Zones.

2. In a keyboard as claimed in claim 1, each key having a playing surface, the playing surfaces of the white keysin said rear playing zone being unequal and. the sum of the width of the playing surface of each white key in the rear playing zone and the width of the clearance at each side thereof being equal for all white keys in the rear playing zones.

Table E Key 0 c-sharp d d-sharp e f f-sharp g g-sharp a b-flat b Playing surtace 12. 5 10 15 10 12. 5 l2. 5 10 15 10 15v 10 12. 5 Playing space 16. 5 17 16.5 16. 5 17 17 16.5

According to the preceding Table E, the playing spaces are again of the same size or larger than the corresponding playing spaces of a standard keyboard according to Table B.

Preferably the side surfaces of the black and white keys are made of the same material as the top surfaces of said keys; in contrast to the top surface (playing surface) of the keys, the side surfaces, however, are smooth as a mirror.

I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, but it is understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that various omissions or changes in shape, proportion and arrangement of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those, herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A keyboard for a keyboard instrument, comprising in combination: a plurality of white keys, a plurality of black keys, said white and black keys being arranged 3. In a keyboard as claimed in claim I, said clearance between adjacent white keys e-f and b-c in the rear zone being substantially twice as large as the clearance between the white keys in the front zone.

4. In a keyboard as claimed in claim 1, the clearance between adjacent white keys in the front zone being substantially of the same size as the clearance between adjacent white keys and black keys in the rear zone.

5. In a keyboard as claimed in claim 1, said clearance between adjacent white keys e-g and b-c in the rear zone being substantially 'twice as large as the clearance between the white keys in the front zone and as the clearance between adjacent white keys and black keys in the rear zone.

6. In a keyboard as claimed in claim 1, said clearance between two adjacent white keys in the rear zone includ ing a longitudinal recess in at least one white key of said pair of adjacent white keys, and said longitudinal recess extending only in the rear zone at that. side of. the white key which faces the other white key of said pair of ad jacent white keys.

7. In a keyboard as claimed in claim 1, said clearance between adjacent white keys ef and bc in the rear playing zone being formed by a longitudinal recess in at least one of the white keys ef and bc, said recess alternately being located in opposite directions relative to the clearances formed between the same white keys in the front playing zone.

8. In a keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the major portion of the playing surface of each black and white key is curved from the rear towards the front and downwardly in convex manner, and the playing surfaces of the black keys in pressed-down position project only slightly above the playing surfaces of the white keys.

9. In a keyboard as claimed in claim 1, the playing surface of said white keys being curved downwardly in the longitudinal direction of the white keys from an area remote fi'om the front end thereof towards the front end thereof.

10. In a keyboard as claimed in claim 9, said curved playing surface of the white keys being in the shape of a convex curve.

11. In a keyboard as claimed in claim 9, said curved playing surface of the white keys being in the shape of convex and concave curves succeeding each other.

12. In a keyboard as claimed in claim 9, said curved playing surface of the white keys extending from an area in front of the black keys towards the front end of the white keys.

13. In a keyboard as claimed in claim 9, said curved playing surface of the white keys extending from an area located substantially in line with the beginning of the front half of the black keys towards the front end of the white keys.

14. In a keyboard as claimed in claim 1, the body forming each key having side surfaces and top surfaces merging into each other and being made of the same material.

15. In a keyboard as claimed in claim 14, the side surfaces of the keys being smooth as a mirror.

16. In a keyboard as claimed in claim 1, the edges of the keys at the transition from one surface into another one being rounded.

17. In a keyboard as claimed in claim 1, the front surface of the black keys being of semi-cylindrical shape.

18. In a keyboard as claimed in claim 17, the genera trix of said semi-cylindrical front surface being straight and extending in a vertical direction.

19. In a keyboard as claimed in claim 17, the generatrix of said semi-cylindrical front surface being straight and the lower end of said generatrix being farther inward than the upper end thereof.

20. In a keyboard as claimed in claim 17, the generatrix of said semi-cylindrical front surface being convex and the lower end of said generatrix being farther inward than the upper end thereof.

21. In a keyboard as claimed in claim 17, the generatrix of said semi-cylindrical front surface being concave and the lower end of said generatrix being farther inward than the upper end thereof.

22. In a keyboard as claimed in claim 1, the side surfaces of the black keys being straight and extending in a vertical plane.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 360,255 Ianks Mar. 29, 1887 717,645 Wiehmayer Ian. 6, 1903 2,195,238 Cervenka Mar. 26, 1940 2,565,239 Kostka Aug. 21, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 190,182 Switzerland June 16, 1937 674,077 Germany Apr. 5, 1939 1,054,759 France Oct. 14, 1953 

